Industrial truck.



M. s. Towsom. INDUSTRIAL TRUCK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 4,1915. A

Patente@ July L7, 19172 3 SHEETS-HEET I M. s. TowsoN.

INDUSTRIAL TRUCK. APPLICATION FILED`JUNE 4'. 1915.

Patented July 17, 1917.

3 SHEExTS-SHEET 2.

AZYE'NTO@ v I form may be rigid therewith, thusprovid- 'a0 i inaftermore fully described in .connection Maasai.

MORRIS S. TOWSON, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO ASSIGNOR TO'THE ELWELL-PAB/KEB LEC- TRIC COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A'CORPORATIONOF OHIO.

INDUSTRIAL Tanon.

To all whom z't'mag/ concern:

Be it known that MORRIS S. TowsoN, a

citizen of ,the United States, residing. at

Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new in Industrialand useful improvement Trucks, of which the following is la full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates particularly tol industrial trucks, and has for its principal object theprovision of a power operated .ele-

\ vating support adapted to be thrust under a raised movablev platform loaded with goods. and then raised with relation to the truck to pick up the platform with the goods thereon and transport the same to any- -desired point, where they may be deposited by lowering the platformsupport of the truck. The platforms on which the goods may be piled are preferably raised from the ioor on separated supports, so that a portion oft the truck maybe moved bodily under them, .allowing the raisable support to en gage them. The supports for such a plating lin effect a table under which the truck isvthrust'for raising it freefrom thefloor and conveying it to a different point.

Industrial trucks are usually driven by storage batteries, and another object .of this invention is to provide an efiicient' electrically driven operating mechanism for' raising. .and lowering the elevating support of the truck independently of the mechanism for driving the truck. In the .embodiment shown in the drawings the truck is partially controlled by automatically `raisable platforms on which vthe operator stands. Such facontrolling device is shown and described in the prior patent tp C. E. F. 'Ahlm and C. E. Cochran, No. 1,069,991, o n a motor truck, granted August 12, 1913, andI prefer lto so arrange the circuits for the driving mechanism and the mechanism operating the elevating support that they may both be controlledby )ne of the platforms and automatically shut 'off whenever the weight of the operator is relieved from such platforms.

Other `features .of my invention areherev y' with the drawings, and theiessential charside eleyation of `a.:lii'llckembodying my Specication of Letters Patent. Pwtmltqgdl ,1l uly 17, 19111.?, Application-ined .Tune 4, 1915. v Serial No. 32,201. i

operatedraising mechanism for the platform; Fig. 4 isa front elevation on a reduced scale, of the truck; Fig. 5,is la plan of the same; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a vswitch for, controlling the motor-operating elevating platform; Fig. 7 is a plan of the same; Fig. 8 is a wiring diagram, illustrating a suitable arrangement of battery circuits for the two motors.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals, l indicates a horizontal truck frame comprising side members and suitable cross members and carried at the forward. end on` wheels indicated at 2 and at the rear end on smaller wheels i arranged closer together than the forward wheels, the side membersof the frame being broughttogether and supported on the rear axle 5 between the wheels. At the forward portion of the truck is an upright box-like frame 6 adapted to contain storage batteries, indil cated at 7, as Well as driving and controlling mechanism, notv shown. Pivotally secured to the front of the frame are pedals or short form lextending rearwardly over the small wheels 4. This support iscarried on-pivoter] arms 18- and 20 so that it may be raised and lowered with relation to the frame. The arms 18 are pivoted at their lower ends to brackets. 22., secured outside of the members ofthe frame l., and at their upper ends to downwardly extending brackets `23 secured to the .under side of the eleVating platform 16, The. arms 20 are preferably formed'on a single integral casting, as shown in Fig. 2, and pivoted to ears 25 lextending rearwardly from the axle 5. The arms v2,0 lcarry at their extending'between the frame'members and l carrying at' the middle portion a casing 33 upper ends a pin 6 adapted'to be received by downwardly extending'ears or bracket members 27 secured to the vunder side of the platform. These pivoted arms are so arranged that when in their vertical positionjas 1n Fig. 1, the elevating platform is at its highest point, and when the platform is lowered these arms are swung rearwardlybring1n-g the platform tothe lower position, as indicated by broken lines at 2.8. Means for raising and lowering the platform 16 will now be described.

Securedto the frame members `1 are a pair' of depending brackets 30, adapted to receive trunnions on a `casting member 32,

adapted to receive a screw 34 which is provided with a head 35 pivotally engaging a transverse pin 36, shown as extending through depending flanges 38 of a pair of angle brackets of the platform 16 ahead of the screw just described. Theangle of the screw with relation to the platform and the swinging arms. 18 and 20 is preferably such that when the screw is moved into and out of itscasing it may act most efficiently to raise and V'lower' the platform.4 Within an enlarged portion-of the casing 33 I have provided a nutv 40 engaging the threads of the screw 34 vand having worm teeth on its periphery whereby it may bel driven by a threaded worm 42 on a shaft43 carrying at the outer end a wheel 44 having pockets ofthe usual form (not shown) adapted to receive the links of a chain 46. -The chain 46' extends forwardly from the wheel 44 to a pair o f It will be noticed from the construction 'I just described that the platform support 16 may be stopped inv any portion of its move` ment and there locked automatically by the nut 40, and its worm gear driving mechanism, for any tendency of the nut 40 torotate would' be prevented by the worm teeth 42 on the shaft 43.l As a means for limiting the movement -of'the elevatingsupport, I y

have shown a pair of rods 45-comprising Hat strips having at one end threaded portions extending through across member 49 secured to a-narrow .portion of the frame 1 and held to this member 49 by suitable nuts.

The members 45 extend forwardly and are provided near their vforward ends with longitudinal slots 51 adapted to slidably re` ceive the flattened ends'of the pin 36. As

the 4platform rises these members 45 lare sprung upwardly and the movement may be' 39 secured to the under side When' the platform comes to its lower posi- 'tion it preferably restsjon the frame 1 or any suitable stops carried thereby. -The chain wheel 50 is rigidly carried on a shaft 52 supported in a suitable frame'53 and having a gear 54 adapted tobe driven` by a pinion 56 on the shaft of a motor indicate-d at 57, and also secured to the' frame 53.' .The rotationv of the gear 54 is transmitted i to the shaft 52, on which it is carried,

through a friction clutch member 5'8 slidably keyed to the shaft 52 and pressed into engagement with the gear by a spring 59 surrounding the shaft. Thus if the driving movement of the platform mechanism is inadvertently stopped, this clutch may allow Athe. motor to continue to rotate, thereby preventing serious injury to the parts.

The motor is adapted to rotate in either direction, thereby driving the wheel 50 throughthe gears 56 and 54 described. A suitable switch for controlling this motor and so directing the cur-rent as to drive the limited consequent upon the liattened end of I .the pin 36 coming to the ends of the slots 51.

same in opposite directions is shown in :Figs v 5 and 6, inwhich 60 indicates'a base plate Vmounted-'on extended portions of the frame 58 and carrying pivoted double knife switch members 62, which are connected with feed 'terminals 63 amd64. Each side of the double knifel switch member is adapted to engage a pair of spring contacts 65 and 6G- connected withterminals to which may lead the field and armature wires of the motor an upwardly extendinginsulated eye 68, to which is .pivotally connected an operating rod 69 provided with a handle 70. The rod is shown as having a notch 71 engaging a projection on; the guide 72, which'carries a spring '73 pressing the rod toward the guide so that the notch may be heldin engagement.

Extendingsfrom the eye 68 in the oppo-.

site direction Vis a link 74 pivotally connected to an upwardly extending arm of a bell lo() 57 This switch is preferably provided with 'd crank 76 having an arm 77 pivotally connected with a vertical rod 78 leading downwardly vto a bell crank 79 (indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3), which is operated by a rod 8O.v The rod S0 is provided with spaced collars or stops 81 and 82 adapted to v be-engagedby a depending ear 83, through which the rod slidably extends and which is secured'to the under side of the platform 16. Now it will be seen that as the platform is raisedand lowered, thereby moving it forwardly andrearwardly, the ear S3 will engage the collars 81 and 82,'when it rea 'whos its upper'and lower positions respectively. Such' engagement will move the rod longitudinally, and through the bell crank 79, rod

7 8,. bell crank 76 and link 74, will move thc switch knives 62, thereby throwing the same out o f contact and bringing the notch 71 in the rod 69 into a position to 4'enge its projection on the support 72, thereby-y stopping the motor and latching the switch against inadvertent movement.. The motor may b e started in either direction .to raise or lower the platform, by raising the handle 70 to disengage the notch just mentioned, and' then thrusting or pulling on '-the handle,

,o through one or the other set'nf' contacts 65 A suitable cover or casing, as indicated in i broken lines at 84, maybe used to cover the switch mechanism and motor and driving mechanism.

The diagram shown' in Fig. 7 illustrates a suitable arrangement of the battery and "wiring connections for the `motor for driv- The other side of the motor is connected byv ing the. truck andfor the motor operating the elevating platform. 1n this figure 85 indicates a battery connected 'by a line 86 with a motor 87, adapted to drive the truck.

a .return wire 88, switch 90 and wire 89, at the other side of the battery, thereby completing the circuit. At 91 is indicated a switch controlling this circuit and which may be illustrative of any suitable controller mechanism. The motor 57 is preferably connected with the battery 85, by a line 92. The other intermediate terminal 63 is connected by a line 93 leading through *fthe field indicated at 94, and to the switch 90. The armature of' the -motor 57 is shown Cas connected by lines 95 and 96 with the contacts` 66 of the switch heretofore described.

Now with the arrangement described, it will i be seen that when the switch 90 is closed the circuit through the driving motor 87 may be controlled by the switch or controller 91, and at the same time the motor 57 operated by the portion of the battery in its circuit.

A suitable mechanism by which one platl form 10 may control the operation of the motor and particularly that ofthe switch l90, which may be part. of a controller, is shown, described and claimed in the patent to Clyde E.' Cochran No. 1,073,397, granted September 16, 1913. The use of the other platform and chain may be that of a brake Operating in -a manner as shown, described and claimed in the patent to Ahl'm and to the terminal 63, and if the switch controlling this motor isin a position'diagraim 'matically indicated by the/solid lines, the current will pass from the terminalv63 to the contact '66 and over to the opposite contact 66, through the line A96, armature of the motor, and line 95, Vand from the other conltact 66 to the diagonally iopposite contact 65,

throwing the switch yand closing the circuitand thence to the battery.

battery.

lder frame, an elevating.y snpport,xparallel direction, the current passesffromthe hat tery through the lines 89, switch 90, lines 93, and -iield 94, to the terminal 63, as before. Now with the'switch thrownto `the position indicatedwin .broken lines at 9,8, the current 'will' pass .to the adjacent terminal 66, through the :line 95, and through the armature in the 'direction oppositeto that just described', returning from the `armature through vthe line 96, the other terminal v66, andthe other line'98, through the line 92' It will .fbe vseen from the above description of the diagram that if the switch 90. is opened the circuits through both motors will be broken, this switch being common, .and if this switch is controlled yby one of :the platforms l0 on which'theopera'ter stands as it is obvious that neither motor can be op# yerated unless the'operatoris in. thev proper position.

It will thus be seen that l have provided a truck having a power operated elevat.` ing support controlled independently of the driving mechanism, by which 'I have vaccomplished thel objects above set forth. .Such

support may kbe thrust under a platfbnm .on which a load of goods is resting, the platform then raised free from its supportsley raising the ,elevating support of the truck, and as soon as the platform clears its supports the truck may bestarted ltoward its destination and the raising'movementcom-,1110 pleted while lthe truck is traveling, .thus saving considerable time." A similar sav-. v ing may be made by Ibeginning thelowering movement to vdeposit the loaded platform at the other end of the trip. Having thus described my invention what I claim is: 1. In a truck, the combination of a front housing, abattery carried thereby, supporting wheels at .the sides of vsaid housing, ia frame extending rearwardly from the housing near its lower end, a raisable platform carried by said` frame, mechanism for raising said platform, a motor carried by the housing, connecting mechanism between the au same and said raising-mechanism, and electric connections between said motonand the 2. The combination in 'a `truck, of :anunpivoted arms-connectingsaid support with the under frame, mechanism forraising and lowering the support4 adapted; `to 1. push against the same in ta diagonal :direction andi pivotally connected to the under side ofthe support and tofthe under frame, ysaid mechanism including a screw, Valnuten .the screw, and gearing for driving the nut. 3. 'llhe combination ef a trucklhaving a fre with tspaced members, van-Ae'levag vteov in the housing, said housing having oppositely projecting trunnions 'which are mounted 1n said spaced members of the 'v frame, and means for rotating the nut to 10 raise the platform.

4. In a truck of the character described,

the combination of a' frame, wheels sup-- porting the frame, an upright housing at one end of the frame, said frame extending 'rearwardly adjacent the ground, a platform surmounting the rearward extension of the frame, the rear wheels being comparatively small, and said platform overhanging the same, means for movably carrying said surmounting platform by the frame, mechanism for raising and lowering said platform, and a motor carried on the top lof said housing for operating the raising mechanism. j i

5. The combination .with a truck, of an under frame, a support carried by the frame adapted .to be raised and lowered, parallel pivoted arms connecting the support with theframe and adapted to swing about their pivots as the support is raised and lowered,

mechanism for causing such raising and lowering including a screw and nut, a member carrying said screw and pivoted to the frame, a motor, and means connecting the motorwith said nut for rotating the same'.

'6. In a truck, theccombination of an 'under frame, an elevating support, pivotedk -arms connecting said support with the under frame, mechanismlfor raising and lowering 40 the support including a screw member and a nut on the screw, means carrying said nut and pivoted to the frame, means pivotally connecting 'the screw with the platform whereby the swinging movement of said armsmay be caused by rotating-the nut, a

motor carried by the frame, and means con- .necting the motor with the nut for driving v the same, including a iexible connection.

7. In .a truck, the combination with a framev having a support, links pivoted to the support and tothe frame, raising' and lowering mechanism connected to the support and to the frame including a screw ly- -mg atanangle to the support .and the j.; I "iframe, a'nut on said screw, a 'member comprislng a, guide for the screw rotatably cari' .rying thenut and pivoted to the frame, said n v fnuthaving .worm teeth on its periphery, a

i vwormaengaging said teeth and adapted to .fhrdtateathe nut carried by said memben'a motor-.carried byithe frame, and means connecting-thev motor with said wormgfor rotating thenut."; y y' `8. Inga,4 truck, 'the combination'with a .65 supporting the frame, an ele- -motors, an individual controller in the cir- Avating` support above thev frame, links pivcarried by the frame', and a chain driven by the motor and running over said chain 8o wheel.

9. In Ia truck, the combination with a frame having a support, links pivoted to the support and to the frame, raising and lowering mechanism connected to the support and to the frame including a screw lying at an angle to the support and the frame, a nut on said screw, a member comprising a guide for'the screw rotatably carrying the nut and pivoted to the frame, said nut having worm teeth on its periphery, a worm engaging said teeth and adapted to rotate the nut carried by said member, a motor carried by the frame, means connecting the motor with said worm for rotating the nut, including a gear, a shaft for the same on which it is loosely mounted, and a clutch member convnecting the gear with the shaft, and means for urging the clutch into frictional engagement. i

10. In a truck, the combination of an under frame,` an elevating support above a por- -tion of the frame, pivoted arms connecting truck having a battery Vand motor-driven propelling means, of a vertically movable support adapted to be thrust under an article to raise the same, mechanism for raising the support, a motor for driving the last named mechanism and deriving its power from said battery, circuits for each of said vcuit of the propelling motor, an automatic stopping'switch in the circuit of the raising motor, and a safety switch common to both circuits. 'i -.12. f1`he combinationhwith a. truck, of a 180 vertically movable support carried thereby l and adapted to be thrust under articles to be raised,- an electric motor, mechanism operated thereby 'for raisingor lowering the sup- 5 port, a reversing switch .having a pair of piv-` oted switch members, mechanism connecting the switch with the platform and'adapted to throw the switch to neutral position when v Messner v theplatform reaches extreme upper orlower l vposition, and a handle for throwing the' 1 0 switch from neutral to either active position. f

i a MORRIS 3S; TowsoN. 

